Mute piano



(No Model.)

C. PBTBRSILBA.

MUTE PIANO.

N0. 3291592. JCPaten'ed Nov. 3, 1885-.

.le Y

MUTE

PIANO.

SEEGFICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,592, dated November 3,

Application filed October 25, 1884. Serial No. 146,472.

To all whom it may concern/.j

Be it known that I, CARLYLF. PETERsILEA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suilolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mute Pianos; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and gnres of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to pianos, and has for vits object to provide a mute piano in which,

the action is secured by devices so arranged as to be convenient of reach i`or purposes of repair, and by which the action will be rendered similarl to the action ot' complete' musieal pianos.

This invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure I is a plan View of my piano, the central portion being broken away to save space in illustration. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the piano on about line .r rc, Fig. I, with the lid in place. Fig. 3 is va detail perspective view of one of the keys. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of one of the keys on line y y, Fig. 3.

The casing Ais made in the box form most clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that it may be conveniently set on a table or other stand when desired for use, and may be stood in a corner or otherwise disposed of out of the way when not in use. The bottom of this box is provided with a longitudinally-extended strip, B, on which the keys are pivoted in any desired manner. The name-bar C is extended between the ends of the box and secured in any suitable manner, preferably by means of screws, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. l. On the rear side of the naine-bar is formed a horizontal shoulder or step, C, on which are secured the springs presently described. The keys are arranged below the naine-bar, being pivoted on the strip B, as described, and are therefore held between bars B O. These keys D are arranged in the usual manner, as will be seen in Fig. I, black and white keys being (No model.)

l indicated by the same letter. On the upper side of the keys is formed a groove, D, ex-

tending from their rear end, and decreasing in depth as it approaches the i'ulcrum of the key. This'groove forms a seat for springs E. These springs are provided one for each key, and are made of rods of springsteel or other metal, having one end bent to forni an eye, E, through which is passed the screw F, which secures them on the step O/ or the name-bar. Their other ends bear on the keys at or near the rear ends thereof, and are curved at E2, as shown, so as to i'orm a smooth bearing-surface, which presses on the key and obviates all danger of the springs being engaged and displaced by Contact with the key, as will be seen in Fig. 2. It will be seen that the groove D holds the springs in proper contact with their respective keys, and that by means ol' the ring E and fasteningscrew F they may be conveniently removed, so that as one or the other of the springs loses its tension or becomes broken or otherwise useless it maybe conveniently removed and a new spring inserted in its place. It may be desirable in some cases to relieve the tension of the spring when the piano is'not being used. To such end t-he name-bar may be pivotally secured, so as to be rotated partially at will, and yet be held firmly in the position shown in Fig. 2, when the instrument is being used. This may be accomplished by the screws II. (Indicated in dotted lines, Fig. l.) By tightening these screws the name-bar will beheld from rotation, and when loosened the bar will be partially rotated by said spring until said tension is relieved. By so relieving the tension of the springs while the instrument is not being used they will retain their elasticity and be operative for a longer period than if they at all times exerted their tension, as is well understood. It is manifest that this rotary ad) nstment of the name-bar could be secured in various ways-as, for instance, by supporting it on permanent pivots and providing a latch or latches, by which to secure it at any point of rotary adjustment. I do not therefore desire to be limited to the particular device shown for holding said bar. By arranging the springs E to bear upon the rear end ot' the keys goed results are had, and the parts are so arranged as to be out of sight, and yet in convenient position to be reached by the operator for the purposes of changing the springs or any other purpose desired. The groove D forms a convenient track for the spring, and holds it in proper contact with its key,and, decreasing in depth from the rear end ofthekey, permits the springto exert anearly equal force throughout the operation of depressing the key. By supporting these springs on the steps C of the name-bar they may be readily placed in position and secured separately; or the name-bar may be removed and all the springs changed at will. This chan ging of all the springs may be desirable in some instances where the action is too stiff or too free, as the case may be, for the operator. While, as stated, the springs give good results, itis preferred to use in connection therewith weights G. In order to properly sup port these weights,1 bore transversely through the keys, near their rear end,and fill the opening thus formed with lead or other suitable metal melted and poured therein. By this construction the weights "are firmly supported without taking up any space in the casing, and any number desired may be employed, as is obvious.

It is my purpose in manufacturing my pianos to make the key-board a full pianolength of seven and one-third oetaves, or any other desired number of octaves, in order that instrumental pieces of any usual range may be played thereon, thus not limiting the operator to the {ive-finger exercises or other practice involving the use of but a limited number of keys.

By my invention the operator may practice and obtain all the benefits of fingering, &c., without annoying the persons near, by the repeated playing of the same notes. Again, a number of the imite pianos may be simultaneously operated in the same room without one operator annoying or discommoding the others.

This invention offers many advantages for practice that cannot be had of the ordinary piano. The hand action of the spring and weighted key combined strengthening the hand more in one hour than practice on the ordinary piano would in a much longer period, and the absence of all sound compels the operator to think music, at the same time that the distressing effects of oftrepeated hearing ofthe same sounds are avoided. The piano thus forces the student to practice scientically.

It is manifest that the touch -regulating mechanism may be applied to keyboard musical instruments.

Prior to my invention it was common to inclose within the piano a rod provided with springs, the latter being arranged each to bear upon a separate key, said arm having an arm through which a set-screw swiveled in the case projected to partially rotate said bar about its axis, thereby increasing or decreasing the tension of the springs acting on the keys. Such construction is objectionable, and, besides the extra expense in the addition of the spring-supporting rod, its location is such as not to permit its easy removal for repairs, and the adj usting-screw cannot be placed within easy reach of the performer, so that he may vary the tension of the springs, if desired, without leaving his scat. Besides, such screw, projecting from thetop of the casing, is objectionable. By my arrangement the spring-supporting bar and its appliances are dispensed with and the nameboard made to subserve its purpose. Furthermore, the same, being within easy reach, may be vibrated about its axis at any time by the performer without leaving his seat. The reverse of the above-mentioned construction has also been in vogue-that is, the springs have been attached to the keys, and a board is pivotally supported transversely to the springs and keys and adapted to be turned on its axis to bear upon the springs, midway their ends, to increase their tension and resistance to the touch. This construction is also objectionable, as it is open to the same objection urged against the previous-mentioned construction, in addition to which may be added the disadvantages of wear upon the springs and upon those parts of the board contacting with the springs, and the practical shortening of the springs by such contacting with the board.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

The combination, with the keys, ofthe rotatable name-bar, screws pivotally supporting` the same and serving as a means whereby said bar may beheld at any desired point ot' rotation, and the springs E, having one end secured to the name-bar and their other ends bearing on the keys, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARLYLE PETERSILEA.

Vitnesses:

OVERTON W. BARRET,

LinLrxA LavxLLnn.

IOO 

